Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for testicular cancer, hands and hips pain (claimed as arthritis), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD due to lack of evidence supporting a direct relationship with his military service. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus had its onset during his military service and is related to noise exposure, granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment, so his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Veteran's retroactive CRSC payments are remanded due to a lack of information regarding any payments and withholdings made by VA prior to April 1, 2018.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current tinnitus and his military noise exposure. The preponderance of the evidence does not support the Veteran's contention that his tinnitus began during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-5. The Board found that there was no in-service stressor corroborated to establish a nexus between the diagnosed conditions and service.,Service connection for tinnitus was also denied because the Veteran's first reported symptoms were decades after service, and there was no evidence of noise exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle condition and remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression).

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death and that the cause of death was not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him in need of regular aid and assistance, which is granted for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is presumed to have been incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected. The Board found new evidence relevant to the claims, including a private opinion linking his tinnitus to military noise exposure. Service connection is established for these conditions based on direct evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus was found to have onset during service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete development, including locating a lay statement submitted by his wife. An addendum opinion is required from the VA examiner who provided the December 2019 VA audiological examination.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to be related to service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and acid reflux. The issues of increased rating for PTSD prior to June 11, 2020, and in excess of 70 percent after June 11, 2020, are remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues (back disability, left knee and right shoulder disabilities, bilateral foot disorder, and headaches) are remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate July 2016 VA examination. The claims are being remanded for new examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during active service. The remaining issues of service connection for elbow disabilities and scars have been remanded for further examination.